Our world began from a spark of spiritual energy which burst through from the Upper World. This small spark of Light created all the matter in our universe and provided energy for the development of all the parts of creation: the inanimate, vegetative, animate, and human. We are also a consequence of that same spark.

The same thing always happens in the spiritual world on all the levels, during the descent from Above downward: a spark of Light bursts through from Malchut of the Upper spiritual object into Keter of the lower object, and begins to build a whole new world there.

However, when we begin to rise back up, we don’t understand how to do this. How can I tell what my next state should be – what desires, qualities, and connections should exist in me in order for me to be like the Upper Level?

I cannot know this information and ascend until the Upper Level gives me an example that I will then be able to imitate. Therefore, first and foremost I need the revelation of the Upper Level.

However, spiritual revelation is only possible when my qualities correspond to the Upper Level, but I am unable to correspond to them. Therefore, we end up with a vicious cycle where one is not possible without the other. There is no solution, since there is a split between me and the Upper Level. There is an impassable border between us, which I will never be able to cross on my own!

This is why the Upper Level adjusts to me and descends to my level like a grown-up that descends to a child’s level in order to teach him something. Through the Upper Light’s example, I can see what my next state should be – “me + 1.”

If I want to reach the Upper Level and to become similar to it, then I change myself and rise to the degree of the Upper Level. And then the Upper Light (the soul) clothes into me.

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Our world is a mound of Infinity, but on the smallest level of perception. We understand and feel reality to a minuscule extent, extremely far from complete perception.

It’s similar to how a person with poor eyesight sees almost nothing without his glasses. He can barely make out the people around him, although they are right next to him. Thus, our world is a sleepy, blurry sensation, and a miserable portion of Infinity.

However, we always reveal the whole picture, just like each part of a hologram contains the whole image. Even on the lowest degree, I observe the whole spectrum of reality, but to the extent that I can make it out without my “glasses.” The better my glasses are, the clearer is the picture I see.

We exist inside an unchanging state, but we feel it depending on how clear our perception is. The clearest perception is the World of Infinity.

In order to come closer to it, we have to correct our instruments of perception (Kelim), reveal a little more Light in them. In order for this to happen, they should be similar to the Light. When the Light is revealed, we discover a new layer of reality.

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A question I received: Why is it that when I’m home alone, I can’t make myself open a Kabbalah book and I spend my time watching soap operas on TV instead? But when I come to the class and study there, I wouldn’t trade a lesson even for the best film.

My Answer: When you leave the classroom, you find yourself in the midst of material life, an unconscious state relative to the spiritual one. It’s our will to receive playing with us and making us burn our lives in order to interfere with our spiritual progress.

On the other hand, it helps you by showing how your time is wasted, and how all the pleasures you receive disappear without a trace. You then realize that only the environment can help you. If the people around you think about supporting each other, then you won’t be able to watch soap operas when you’re at home because of the importance of spirituality that they will transmit to you. You will feel that this action is a fall, as if you’re reverting to being a child and building a house out of blocks.

You are not to blame for spending your time in front of a TV. Your only fault is the failure to build an environment around you that will influence you so you just couldn’t waste your time without a purpose.

It doesn’t mean, however, that you have to make yourself turn off the TV. Kabbalah is against this kind of coercion. A person has to work, study, and live life just like an ordinary person. You shouldn’t try to change anything about yourself forcefully, but only by receiving the sense of spirituality’s importance from the environment.

There’s no coercion in spirituality! You can’t bind yourself by the hands and feet and consider yourself righteous. This is not correction!

You will correct yourself only when you change your desires and rise above that TV series. The Light has to correct you, rather than intimidation or threats with the fire of hell after death. The science of Kabbalah is not a religion, and it speaks only of correction. The only means to do this is by increasing the influence of the environment on you. This is the only free choice you have and a necessary condition for spiritual advancement.

Now you can go and watch TV…

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